Lucky Stars (Ghosts and Reincarnation #5)(164)
She was also wearing the diamonds he’d given her after she’d flown with him to London and spent the weekend with him there. An event that happened the weekend previous. It was his congratulations gift to her for not losing her mind during the flight. She didn’t enjoy it with abandoned glee but she did control her fears and eventually relaxed and settled in.
The jewellery included a necklace that was one row ring of diamonds that sat at the base of her throat starting with a somewhat large but by no means ostentatious gem in the middle that became smaller as they rounded her neck. It had a matching bracelet, all the same size diamonds, and two carat diamond studs for her ears.
Although not ostentatious, as would not befit Belle, there were enough of them and all of them were of the finest quality that the entirety cost a small fortune.
On his Belle wearing that gown, it was a dazzling display.
And last, on her left ring finger was the reason Joy insisted, regardless of Jack’s continued concern about the fact they had not discovered Caldwell’s plans or sent Myrtle and Lewis home, that they have the small, intimate dinner party they were having that night.
His engagement ring. A Bennett heirloom cluster of diamonds surrounding a large cushion-cut diamond in the middle.
It was the reason for their trip to London the weekend before. It was the ring he slid on her finger when he’d officially asked her to marry him and she’d done exactly what she told him she’d do and immediately said yes. That was after she burst into tears but before she’d thrown herself in his arms and kissed him.
The dress she was wearing that she designed, the casual elegance with which she wore it and her unassuming beauty was what she gave him. The diamonds were what Jack could give her. The contentment registering in her eyes and her ease in her surroundings was what they could give each other.
All of it in one beautiful, shapely, petite woman. She embodied everything not only good and right between them but also, Jack thought uncharacteristically dramatically, in the entire f**king world.
“Weird, where are the dogs?” she asked, looking around and, for some adorable reason, twitching her wrist with the diamond bracelet on it.
“Belle, come here.”
His voice was thick, deeper than normal, strange and likely because of it, her eyes shot to him. Then she stopped moving and studied him.
“Are you okay?” she asked, tipping her head to the side.
God, he f**king loved her. All she had to do was tip her head to the side and it hit him like a bullet.
That was how much he loved Belle Abbot.
“No,” he answered and concern moved over her face so he finished, “But I will be when you come here.”
The concern fled, her face grew soft and she moved directly to him, close, fitting herself right to his front, her arms sliding around his middle inside his dinner jacket and as she did this his closed around her.
She tipped her head back and looked direct in his eyes.
“Okay, I’m here,” she said softly. “Now are you okay?”
“Absolutely.”
She smiled her sweet, small smile, the tips of her beautiful lips tilting up and she pressed closer.
“You know what I love?” she asked.
“What do you love?” Jack asked back.
“That Joy is doing this, celebrating us and it’s just family and close friends. That she’s happy with that. That you’re happy with that. And that tonight I can wear a pretty dress and enjoy myself with the man I love who I’m going to marry with people who are important to me close and I don’t have to mingle.”
Jack grinned down at her, tightened his arms and dipped his head close. “If you like, our wedding can be the same.”
Her brows drew together. “Are you sure?”
“I’d marry you in a Registry Office with only my family, your family and Yasmin there. I don’t care.”
She grinned back and agreed, “Then let’s do that.”
That was when Jack’s brows drew together. “You don’t want a big cake, a big dress, a big bouquet and a big day?”
“I didn’t say I didn’t want a big cake, a big dress and a big bouquet and even if it was just you and me it would still be a big day.” She got up on her toes and finished on a whisper, “The biggest, best day ever, Jack Bennett.”
Oh yes, he loved Belle Abbot.
“Excellent,” he replied. “We’ll do it next month.”
With this he was awarded one of her lovely startled giggles but she said through it, “Fine by me.”
“I’ll get Olive on it,” Jack remarked.
“Perfect,” Belle whispered.
Yes, it would be perfect.
Unable to stop himself and not trying, he dipped his head even closer in order to kiss her.
Immediately, his Belle kissed him back. And Jack enjoyed it so much he decided to take his time and keep doing it.
So he did.
Therefore, when he finally stopped kissing his very soon-to-be wife and guided her to the drawing room, neither Jack Bennett nor Belle Abbot gave another thought to missing dogs or mobile phones.
They were both thinking more pleasant thoughts, such as their recent kisses and their bright future.
* * * * *
Lewis and Myrtle
“Lewis, Lewis, Lewis!” Myrtle cried, her ghostly body darting to her brother who, as usual during a storm, was floating at the window in the eastern turret, looking out and being moody.